Handshaking has
been a well-accepted social custom practiced by both men
and women of all status. It signifies
a mutual respect between two
persons both in business and social interactions. Although the origin of this old custom
is still unknown, handshaking has been used widely as a nonverbal
form of communication. That is why a handshake is important.
Socially, the handshake is commonly used to greet one another in the spirit of friendship and sincerity. Whether you are in a job interview or connecting with an old
friend, the handshake is an influential part of society that will solidify our relationship
and harmony with
others.
Moreover, the handshake is
usually the first time two people touch. In the next few
seconds,
we lay the ground for how other people perceive and
feel about us, and we about them. We
are seeing, sensing, observing and feeling the other
person in an instant.
In business deals, the handshake is extremely important in our endeavors to seal all kinds of those deals, for example to declare peace between two nations, to
form agreements between two business partners or companies, to arrange marriages
between parents, to close a sale between sellers dan buyers or such. In the
past, the handshake can be as solid
and binding as any contracts. However, modern business
dealings will now need more than just a handshake
to honor the good will and intentions between two parties or people, yet the handshake will still
signify a mutual agreement and promise between them.
When we fully understand the psychology behind a
handshake, and knowing how to perform a proper one, we can then make the difference between, let us say,
getting the job and not. Other
people tend to make
decisions about our personality and character based on any simple
gestures such as how
we implement the handshake all the
time. And as the handshake is one of the most subtle and complex
forms of human interactions, it involves fluid body language, the spoken word and
physical contact.
Below are five
top tips for perfecting your handshake:
- Be positive, sincere and genuine: Make sure you look the person in the eye and smile when you shake their hand. A sincere smile will convey warmth and trust.
- Be confident: Do not wait for someone to initiate the handshake. Instead, be confident enough to reach out first and make the introduction.
- Stand up to shake hands. Do not weaken your presence by staying seated for the handshake. Stand up and greet someone at eye level.
- Firm grasp: Everyone hates the dreaded "dead fish" where someone leaves a limp hand in yours. Hold their hand in a firm, but not crushing, grip. Never hold on for too long; the optimum handshake should last for about three seconds
When the handshake is improperly performed, it leaves us with
negative feelings about the person who gave us that handshake and it will be remembered that way for the rest of our life. These negative feelings and impressions are surely important
because they help us formulate a picture of this person we are meeting for the first time. Those are the reasons why it is also important for men and women of all ages to learn about the art of proper handshaking.
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Photo: FreeImages.com/Shadman Ahmed
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